Role of the complement system in pulmonary disorders.
Immune injury in the lung is classically divided into types I-IV hypersensitivity, with the complement system being involved in types II and III hypersensitivity. Anaphylaxis and asthma are generally considered prototypes of type I hypersensitivity and hypersensitivity pneumonitis as an example of type III hypersensitivity in the lung. However, in asthma, for example, increasing evidence indicates that in addition to mast cells, T lymphocytes play an important role. Therefore, considering asthma as strictly a type I mediated reaction is too simplistic. This report will review the evidence regarding the involvement of the complement system and complement activation products in anaphylaxis, asthma and immune complex disease in various experimental models of pulmonary disease. Identification of the mediators responsible for the symptoms may suggest rational targets for the continued development of effective therapy to combat immune injury in the lung.
Regal
J F
JF
Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Duluth 55812-2487, USA. jregal@d.umn.edu
D000706:Anaphylatoxins; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D003167:Complement Activation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007105:Immune Complex Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000276:immunology; D011951:Receptors, Complement / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D000706:Anaphylatoxins; D011951:Receptors, Complement